Tax Credits / Family Tax, etc.

Nanny2Nurse

Hi,
I'm asking this question here mainly out of frustration at not being able to get through on the phone to Tax Credits either last Friday or today. However, I will try again tomorrow with fingers crossed.

I am a 30-something single Mum working part-time (16 hrs) and I've managed to secure an offer on a three year University course starting September this year to become a Nurse.

What I'm trying to work out is whether in September I should continue to work part-time outside of Uni hours or give up work to concentrate on my studies.

I know working / not working can make a huge difference in what I pay out and what I receive in Tax Credits so I would really appreciate some clarification on my options please, if anyone knows where I would stand.

Ideally, I would like not to have to work so that I can dedicate 100% of my time to my University studies, however I also know that I will probably have to continue working as I know I'll need as much extra cash as possible for books, etc., two of which have already cost me £50.00 before even starting.

So, if anyone has been in a similar situation or knows their way through the system, I'd be really grateful if you could advise.

Any help much appreciated and thank you in advance.

alwaysonthego_2

A nursing degree is full on especially if you have children and a house to keep, you will exhaust yourself studying, being on placement and looking after the kids. You should speak to the welfare officer at Uni who can advice you on the bursaries and access to learning fund that you maybe able to access. You could get cheaper books by buying them off previous students or borrowing them from the library.

Morgan_Ree

I'm currently a student nurse with 1 DS
I work part time, only every other Sunday and I get around £50 a week in tax credits
I was thinking about giving up the part time job because it's just too much being on placement full time, working part time and looking after my DS
From what I gather I would still receive the same amount a week in tax credits

From that point of view my part time wages is just an extra bonus each month
it does help pay the petrol money though when i get a placement over 50 miles away like I have now! :mad:

In my experience working 16 hours a week just to recieve WTC is not worth it
The weeks you're at uni it's easy to do because you'll probably not be in a full 5 days a week.
But the placements weeks are a nightmare
You have to do 40 hours a week working a variety of shifts.
I've been lucky so far and had pretty understanding mentors who have let me have Sundays off that I'm due in at work
But I'm sure i'll eventually get a mentor thats not so understanding
Plus you'll have assingments to do on top of placement hours
It's tough to juggle it all

As for the books i really wouldn't advise buying anymore
The only one I'd recommend is a really good A+P book. Other than that you'll barely use them, especially in the 1st year.

Nanny2Nurse

alwaysonthego wrote: »

A nursing degree is full on especially if you have children and a house to keep, you will exhaust yourself studying, being on placement and looking after the kids. You should speak to the welfare officer at Uni who can advice you on the bursaries and access to learning fund that you maybe able to access. You could get cheaper books by buying them off previous students or borrowing them from the library.

Thanks for your reply. My course isn't quite a degree although I will have the option to continue on with a fourth year to obtain a degree if I decide that's what I want after three years. I've only one child and she's already in her early teens so I'm hoping she won't be too much hard work Also, I must sound a little naive but I believe that as a UK resident I will be automatically entitled to a bursary through the NHS (I've had this as good as confirmed by the Uni.). As for books, they were both second hand from Amazon but I'm going to hold off buying any more for now.

Nanny2Nurse

Morgan_Ree wrote: »

I'm currently a student nurse with 1 DS
I work part time, only every other Sunday and I get around £50 a week in tax credits
I was thinking about giving up the part time job because it's just too much being on placement full time, working part time and looking after my DS
From what I gather I would still receive the same amount a week in tax credits

From that point of view my part time wages is just an extra bonus each month
it does help pay the petrol money though when i get a placement over 50 miles away like I have now! :mad:

In my experience working 16 hours a week just to recieve WTC is not worth it
The weeks you're at uni it's easy to do because you'll probably not be in a full 5 days a week.
But the placements weeks are a nightmare
You have to do 40 hours a week working a variety of shifts.
I've been lucky so far and had pretty understanding mentors who have let me have Sundays off that I'm due in at work
But I'm sure i'll eventually get a mentor thats not so understanding
Plus you'll have assingments to do on top of placement hours
It's tough to juggle it all

As for the books i really wouldn't advise buying anymore
The only one I'd recommend is a really good A+P book. Other than that you'll barely use them, especially in the 1st year.

Thank you Morgan, it's good to hear from someone in a similar position. I will definitely take your advice regarding the books as I can see it getting rather expensive!
I see your point about the placements too. I hadn't really thought about them in that way and agree it would be very difficult, although I've been told by someone already on my course that placements won't happen in the first 6 months and even then, only a week during Uni hours, so fingers crossed.

What do you mean by an 'A+P' book ? The course I'm doing is for a Disability Learning Nurse so would this book still be needed?

Thank you

alwaysonthego_2

Nanny2Nurse wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. My course isn't quite a degree although I will have the option to continue on with a fourth year to obtain a degree if I decide that's what I want after three years. I've only one child and she's already in her early teens so I'm hoping she won't be too much hard work Also, I must sound a little naive but I believe that as a UK resident I will be automatically entitled to a bursary through the NHS (I've had this as good as confirmed by the Uni.). As for books, they were both second hand from Amazon but I'm going to hold off buying any more for now.

They maybe other bursaries or grants, I was not thinking of the standard NHS one, that you could possibly claim. I was always lead to believe that teenagers are supposed to be harder work, but I have a few years to find out

Nanny2Nurse

alwaysonthego wrote: »

They maybe other bursaries or grants, I was not thinking of the standard NHS one, that you could possibly claim. I was always lead to believe that teenagers are supposed to be harder work, but I have a few years to find out

They're definitely hard work but I'm trying to keep positive!!
OK, thanks for the suggestion, I will look into that and find out if there are any other bursaries available.

Morgan_Ree

Nanny2Nurse wrote: »

Thank you Morgan, it's good to hear from someone in a similar position. I will definitely take your advice regarding the books as I can see it getting rather expensive!
I see your point about the placements too. I hadn't really thought about them in that way and agree it would be very difficult, although I've been told by someone already on my course that placements won't happen in the first 6 months and even then, only a week during Uni hours, so fingers crossed.

What do you mean by an 'A+P' book ? The course I'm doing is for a Disability Learning Nurse so would this book still be needed?

Thank you

Which uni are you going to?
I have to say I've never heard of any uni that allows their students only to be on placement during uni hours
You have to experience nursing 24/7
So thats earlies, lates, twilights and nights
The only placement where you are likely to get uni type hours is community

A+P is Anatomy and Physiology
Really sorry, I don't know why I just assumed you were doing Adult
It's still an idea to have a good grasp of A+P but it's up to you whether you get a book or not
Which ones have you bought so far?

Nanny2Nurse

Morgan_Ree wrote: »

Which uni are you going to?
I have to say I've never heard of any uni that allows their students only to be on placement during uni hours
You have to experience nursing 24/7
So thats earlies, lates, twilights and nights
The only placement where you are likely to get uni type hours is community

A+P is Anatomy and Physiology
Really sorry, I don't know why I just assumed you were doing Adult
It's still an idea to have a good grasp of A+P but it's up to you whether you get a book or not
Which ones have you bought so far?

I agree about the shift work but since this is Learning Disability as opposed to Adult I've been led to believe the requirements are different. That said, if shift work was required, I have no problem with it.
As for books, I've bought Greys Anatomy For Students and The Anatomy Colouring Book (better for visual learning) - both on recommendation by a current student. I'll be going to Kingston Upon Thames Uni.
Don't apologise, I forgot to mention what I was actually doing

Morgan_Ree

Nanny2Nurse wrote: »

I agree about the shift work but since this is Learning Disability as opposed to Adult I've been led to believe the requirements are different. That said, if shift work was required, I have no problem with it.
As for books, I've bought Greys Anatomy For Students and The Anatomy Colouring Book (better for visual learning) - both on recommendation by a current student. I'll be going to Kingston Upon Thames Uni.
Don't apologise, I forgot to mention what I was actually doing

The requirements of all 4 branches is exactly the same
More so in the first year as it's to common foundation programme so no branch specific training.

The A+P colouring books are fab!
Definitely a good one to have

Have you been on the student nurse website yet?
If not it's well worth joining
www.studentnurse.org.uk

Nanny2Nurse

Morgan_Ree wrote: »

The requirements of all 4 branches is exactly the same
More so in the first year as it's to common foundation programme so no branch specific training.

The A+P colouring books are fab!
Definitely a good one to have

Have you been on the student nurse website yet?
If not it's well worth joining

OK, point taken about the shifts, perhaps my friend simply hasn't experienced them yet. Great, glad I have the correct book at least
I haven't been that site yet, but will definitely have a look now.
Thanks for your time.

Many thanks